To ensure that certain medicines and vaccines do not lose their effect, they must be stored and transported at a constant temperature. Worldwide transportation by air is one of the fastest and safest means of transport, but it also presents some challenges: it must be possible to maintain the constant internal temperature of the containers even at extremely high or low external temperatures. “If the cold chain is interrupted, the pharmaceutical products usually can no longer be used. Even the slightest temperature deviation can damage the medicines and, in the worst case, render them unusable,” says Christian Ardüser, in charge of research and development at SkyCell.

The Swiss company – founded in 2012 as a start-up and now employing over 120 individuals – develops, produces and rents out air freight containers worldwide in which the temperature remains constant for more than eight days on average. SkyCell’s hybrid refrigerated containers ensure a failure rate of less than 0.1 percent for deliveries. Cooling is provided by an innovative storage material without electrical or mechanical components. The hybrid containers can be easily recharged in a refrigerated chamber or a refrigerated truck.

Together with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, SkyCell is developing a more efficient and sustainable insulation of the containers – with less weight. “A single container weighs 480 kilograms. Every kilo that is eliminated not only reduces transport costs, but also the CO₂ emissions of cargo flights,” says Mr Ardüser. Innosuisse supports this innovation project. “The Innosuisse mentor who helped write the application was very helpful and gave valuable tips.”